Mandate a Universal Contactless Payment Standard for Public EV Charging Across Europe

We call on the European Commission and Member State governments to: 1) Mandate contactless bank card payment as a baseline requirement on all publicly accessible EV chargers, without requiring any app, account, or personal data beyond what a standard card transaction involves. 2) Prohibit the collection of unnecessary personal data as a condition of accessing public charging infrastructure funded wholly or partly by public money. 3) Enforce interoperability standards so that any driver, regardless of vehicle brand or home country, can charge without friction anywhere in Europe. 4) All charging activity should be possible via the terminal of the charger, a mobile phone should not be a prerequisite to refuel your car. Investing in EV infrastructure while locking it behind proprietary barriers is self-defeating. If we want Europe's drivers to make the switch, we must make charging as simple as refueling has always been.